Hollow core panel



J. F. THOMAS HOLLOW CORE PANEL May 20, 1941.

Filed May 17, 1939 -f Ptiied May zo, 1941 AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv noLLow Colm PANEL Jesse F. Thomas, New London, Wis. Application May 17, 1939, serial No. 214,299

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a hollow core panel for use as a door, partition or otherwise.

The invention aims to provide a novel construction wherein the strength is equally distributed on both sides and wherein the strips employed do not require slotting, notching or the equivalent weakening thereof, a construction which is braced in all directions, one in which ventilation is effected in a novel manner, and a construction which is generally strengthened and has greater resistance to warping.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a panel constructed in accordance with the invention, with the ply at one side thereof removed to disclose interior details;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the panel taken on the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the panel on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top edge view of the panel.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, a panel is constructed with a frame I of any suitable size and consists of four stiles or bars I I, usually of wood.v Along one surface, the stiles are grooved throughout as at I2. The ends of two of the stiles as at I3 abut the grooved surfaces of the adjacent stiles and are glued thereto or otherwise fastened. As a result, the grooves I2 form a continuous groove around the inner wall or surface of the frame Ill and the interior of such frame has communication with the atmosphere through the open portions of grooves I2 opposite the ends I3, thereby forming vents.

Against the outer surfaces of the frame, plies or walls of wood or the equivalent I4 are gluedv two shortest strips I5 which are disposed transversely of the frame I0 are substantially thicker than the remaining strips I5 as seen in Figure 1, and thereby strengthened to resist and prevent sagging of the stiles or bars Il while being manufactured.

To provide extended surfaces to accommodate latches and the like, supplemental blocks of wood are provided at I6 which have tongues I'I occupying the adjacent portions of grooves I2, being glued or otherwise fastened therein. Along the inner faces, blocks I6 have longitudinal grooves I2' corresponding to those at I2, into which the tenons I5 of adjacent strips I5 extend, being of less depth than the grooves I2 so as not to obstruct ventilation or communication with the.

atmosphere.

At the center, a hub or the equivalent of woodr is provided at I8 and it has marginal slots I9 in which the inner ends of the strips I5 arel disposed and held to reinforce the frame. It is clear, that if desired, the inner ends of strips I5 may be glued in the slots I9 and that the tenons I5 may be glued in the grooves I2 and I2.

Attention is called to the fact that While the strips I5 are shown as radial and equidistant, they may be otherwise arranged and ais-certain locations may be closer together than at others, or any other desired variations may be resorted to.

After the parts are assembled as described, plies I4 are glued to the contacting surfaces of the stiles II and blocks I6.

In the aforesaid condition, the panel is cured during which there is effective ventilation and communication of all of the interior parts of the core with the atmosphere, through the grooves,

I2 and I 2', since the tenons I5 do not completely fill the grooves and since the groovesl opposite the ends I3 are open to the atmosphere. However, after curing such portions of theggrooves opposite the ends I3, may be plugged or other wise sealed.

Various changes maybe resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. .AL panel of the class described having a frame, said frame having grooves in the inner walls thereof, strips of the same thickness as said frame entered in said grooves, a hub engaged by the inner ends of the strips, said strips having tongues disposed in the grooves and of less length than the grooves, and one of the grooves being extended to the outer margin of the frame and f and edges of said strips.

2. A panel of the class described having a frame, said frame having grooves in the inner walls thereof, strips of the same thickness as said frame entered in said grooves', a hub engaged by the inner ends of the strips, said strips having tongues disposed in the grooves and of less length than the grooves, one of the grooves being extended to the outer margin of the frame, said hub having slots in the periphery thereof engaged by the inner ends of the strips, and outer plies secured directly to the outer sides and edges of said strips.

3. A panel of the class described having a frame, said frame having grooves in the inner walls thereof, strips of the same thicknessj as said frame entered in said grooves, a hub engaged by the inner ends of the strips, said strips having tongues disposed in the grooves and of less length than the grooves, one of the grooves being extended to the outer margin of the frame, saidvhub having slots in the periphery thereof engaged by the inner ends of the strips, a supplemental block disposed against the inner surface of a portion of the frame, said block having a groove in its inner surface engaged by the adjacent tenons of the strips and outer plies secured directly to the outer sides, to the block and edges of said strips.

4. A panel of the class described having a frame, said frame having grooves in the inner walls thereof, strips of the same thickness as said frame entered in said grooves, a hub engaged by the inner ends of the strips, said strips having tongues disposed in the grooves and of less length than the grooves, one of the grooves being extended to the outer margin of the frame, said hub having slots in the periphery thereof engaged by the inner ends of the strips, supplemental blocks disposed against the inner surfaces of portions of the frame having tongues engaging the adjacent grooves of the latter, outer plies secured directly to the outer sides of the frame, to the block and edges of said strips, said blocks having grooves in their inner surfaces, and the tenons of adjacent strips extending into said grooves less than the depth of thelatter, two of the strips engaging the block being in substantially diametric alinement and thicker than the other strips. n

JESSE F. THOMAS. 

